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Environment and greener living

Water: using less in the garden

In hot and dry weather, water used outdoors can amount to 50 per cent of total UK usage. It is still possible, however, to have a beautiful and productive garden using less water. Find out what you can do to make the most of rainwater, and reduce the amount of mains water you use.

Why saving water in the garden is important

Increasing demand for water puts a strain on natural resources, and makes it important to find ways of conserving this valuable resource.

Saving water in the garden can help reduce your water bills, cut the risk of drought orders and water restrictions, and help protect wildlife.

Saving water while keeping your lawn healthy

Lawns are usually the thirstiest part of a garden. A sprinkler, for example, can use as much water in an hour as a family of four uses in a day. There are easy steps you can take to reduce the amount of water your lawn needs:

let the grass grow longer in dry spells to help keep moisture in the soil

try not to use a sprinkler; if you do, your water company may require you to have a meter fitted

infrequent soaks will be more effective than frequent sprinkling as they will encourage roots to search for water deeper in the ground

even if your lawn goes brown in dry weather, it doesn’t mean it has died – it will usually recover when the rain returns